Chapter 124

Chapter 124 \n“So this is the hidden village. ……”\n

 

　The hidden village of the beastmen invited by the wolf beastman, Kagari-san, was surprisingly spacious.

　The structure of the place could be described as a village surrounded by a deep and thick forest.

　But it’s not just a bunch of trees, there are fields and proper houses, so it looks like they are living a more comfortable life than I imagined.

 

“…….But”

 

　Still, the stares from the beasts living in the hidden village are amazing.

　Fear of humans.

　And curiosity towards the humans who would be seeing them for the first time.

　But strangely, there seemed to be less hostility.

 

“Most of the ones here have never seen a human before. It’s no wonder there are so many strange stares.”

 

　Kagari-san, who was walking in front of me spoke to me as if he was acting suspiciously under the unfamiliar gaze.

　This the first time they’ve seen a human? It’s not surprising, since there are few people who would dare to enter the realm where beasts live. It’s just rare for beastmen to enter human habitats like Kiriha and the others who are learning magic in Lukvis.

 

“As for me, it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I’m rather used to this.”

“I see. …… Well, I didn’t expect a mere human to come here, but …… you’re having a hard time, too.”

 

　Hmm? He’s giving me a look of great pity.

　Does he think I’m the kind of person that people avoid? I’m not sure what to make of that.

　….No no no, it’s not that we are used to being watched, but not to being maligned.

 

“Isn’t that right? You’ve had a very difficult journey to get here.”

“Have you forgotten that you were a part of that struggle?”

 

　When I responded to Nea’s words, who was walking next to me with black hair and red eyes, she blatantly averted her gaze.

　I’m sure you’re aware of that.

　I let out a sigh at Nea’s silence and turned to face forward again.

　Then, I notice a statue-like object at the edge of my vision.

 

“Hmm? What is that?”

 

　Looking closely, I can see a humanoid statue standing in the center of a small square.

　It’s of a beastly woman ……, or perhaps a girl.

　It may be a moderately old statue, and there are many parts that are damaged, but I can tell that it has a sword-like weapon at its waist.

 

“Usato-dono, what’s wrong?”

“Uh, there’s a statue over there …….”

 

　I tell Arc-san, who stops and calls out to me about the statue.\n　Then Kagari-san noticed this and turned his head in the direction of the statue and started muttering to himself.

 

“That’s a statue of Kannagi-sama, a hero to us beasts.”

“Hero ……, what did she do?”

 

　In response to my question, he looked at the statue affectionately.

　His gaze seemed to be filled with a deep sense of respect.

 

“She is the only beastman who brought the hero and the beastman together. It’s no exaggeration to say that thanks to that person, we are still alive to this day.”

 

　Kagari-san took his gaze off the statue and started walking again.

　I guess we’ll continue as we walk.

　We follow behind him for a short run.

 

“Hundreds of years ago, the beastman race was even more oppressed by humans than they are now. The powerful were sent to fight the Demon Lord’s army, the powerless were discarded as pawns, and many lives were scattered in the battle.”

“……”

 

　They were really doing terrible things, weren’t they, the humans of that time?

　Forcing the beastmen to go into battle, while they themselves fought to cause as little damage as possible.

　Even Arc-san is frowning. I’m sure he’s in the same state of mind as I am right now.

 

“This is a story from the past, and it has nothing to do with you living in the present. At least, I don’t hate you or anything.”

 

　Kagari-san said this, understanding my and Arc-san’s feelings.

 

“Let’s go back to ……. At the time when the beastmen were being oppressed by humans and the existence of the beastmen tribe was at stake, Kannagi-sama brought a hero to the beastmen tribe. The hero who had tremendous strength, fought the Demon King’s army single-handedly in order to prevent us from dying needlessly.”

 

　Again with the hero.

　Anecdotes about the hero really do spread throughout the continent, don’t they?

　Nea tilted her head at Kagari-san’s story.

 

“Fought? And without any reward?”

“That much I do not know. But it is said that besides fighting, the hero gave us knowledge when we were barbarians.”

“He not only fought for us, but he also gave us knowledge. It’s not like he’s the hero we know, but it’s a new aspect of him. ……”

 

　That’s true.

　The image of the hero that I have known so far is that of a hero who has been betrayed.

　However, listening to Kagari-san’s story, I get the image of a “benevolent hero”.

　In the end, the hero who defeated the demon king, the enemy of humans, what was he fighting for?

 

“What kind of person was Kannagi-sama, who was the follower of that hero?”

“It is said that she is a kind and a ruthless woman. What I can say for sure is that Kannagi-sama was a very powerful woman.”

“Powerful? Does that mean she was someone of high rank?”\n“No, in this case I mean her strength. The story goes that she was a great woman who knocked down her enemies and proceeded to slash and punch them. Well, I’m sure there’s some exaggeration in it.”

“Kill, slash and punch your way forward ……”

 

　What is that person who seems to be going full speed ahead and breaking through the front …….

　My image is now completely fixed on Rose with animal ears.

　I can’t imagine it, it’s not cute at all. Rather, the fear of Rose imprinted on my body started to torment me.

 

“Here we are.”

 

　As I’m mentally damaged by the richness of my own imagination, Kagari-san, who was walking in front of me, stops in his tracks.

　Looking ahead, there was a two-story house made of wood. This is probably the home of Kagari-san, the head of this hidden village, and his granddaughter, Rinka.

　Kagari-san turns around and looks at us, and then turns his gaze to Bluerin, who is following a little behind us.

 

“Even we can’t let monsters into the house. You’ll have to wait outside with the horses there, is that alright?”

“Understood, sir. …… Bluerin, can I ask you to stay here for a while?”

 

　I crouched down in front of him and told him so, and he nodded his head and sat there as if he was weakening.

　Seeing this, Kagari-san rolled his eyes.

 

“I didn’t think it was possible, but you’ve been able to build a trusting relationship without a messenger contract.”

“Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I can feel the joyful emotions coming from the blue grizzly.”

 

　This is a characteristic of beastmen that allows them to read the emotions of animals without human language.

　I also have a vague idea of what Bluerin is thinking, but …… I was a little envious.

　With this in mind, I turned to Kagari-san and pointed my thumb at Nea with a chuckle.

 

“She’s the one who has a contract with me. Well, in my case, this fellow forced me to make a contract with her.”

“…… you’re kind of like a …… strange person, very different from the people I know.”

 

　I wonder if that was a compliment.

　With a subtle expression on his face, Kagari said, “I’m not sure how I feel about this, but we’re going to go in for now”

 

 

 

“—-So that’s the situation.”

 

　In the guest room, I spent more than ten minutes telling Kagari-san the reason why we had come to this place. After finishing listening to our story, he slowly relaxed his shoulders.

 

“It’s been two years since you left your hometown …… and it’s been a long journey, Amako.”

“……Yes. But I’ve finally made it here. And it’s all thanks to these people.”

 \n\n“As for the rooms, there are two spare rooms upstairs, you can use them as you like.”

“Thank you. It’s bad enough that you’re just letting me stay here, please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Hmmm…… then, can I have you chop wood behind the house? As you can see, I’m old, and I’ve been having a hard time chopping wood.”

“That much is fine by me.”

“I’ll help you, Usato-dono.”

 

　Then, after I put my stuff in my room, I’ll chop wood with Arc-san.

　…… Chopping wood, huh? I used to do it when I was in the Lingle Kingdom. I’m sure he’ll be happy to know that I’m not the only one who has a problem with this.

　I’m sure Nack and Ferme are being forced to do the same now.

 

“Let’s go drop off our stuff as soon as possible.”

 

　I bowed to Kagari-san and headed upstairs to drop off my luggage.

　At that time, for some reason, Rinka also stood up and tried to follow us, but I thought it was nothing to worry about, so I just opened the door…

 

“Wait a minute, Rinka. You’re about to get a lecture.”

“Yeek! Why? !”

 

　Kagari-san grabbed Rinka’s head as she tried to follow us.

　Rinka’s face turns pale, but he doesn’t care, and his expression turns grim.

 

“I’ve always wanted to say, who would shoot an arrow out of nowhere? It’s a good thing he was mild-mannered. …… If he had been a dangerous man, you would have been in danger, wouldn’t you?”

“W-Why are you bringing that up now! You can scold me later!”

 

　Apparently, Kagari-san was crowned about the daytime attack.

 

“Shut it! I don’t remember raising you to be such a violent child!”

“Usato is not a normal person! He can grab a flying arrow with his bare hands, and he’s even faster than me!”

“He’ll never do anything so monstrous! You’re being rude to our guest!”

“I’m telling the truth this time!”

“I’m not geriatric enough to be fooled by such an obvious lie!”

“Uwaaaaaah! Help me Amak——!

 

　…….

　After watching the exchange between Kagari-san and Rinka, Amako quietly closed the door.

　After a few moments of silence, she looked up at me as if nothing had happened and pointed to the second floor.

 

“Usato, let’s go.”

“Oh, okay.”

 

　I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems like Amako’s treatment of Rinka is very familiar to me. ……

　Don’t tell me that two years ago you were also ……?

　I felt sorry for Rinka, and after giving my hand to the shouts and cries coming from the closed door, I picked up my bags and went upstairs to my room.